Pacific Northwest

  • Prune, shape, or thin spring-blooming shrubs and trees after blossoms fade.
  • Prepare raised beds in areas where cold soils and poor drainage are a problem. Add generous amounts of organic materials.
  • Don't remove foliage of spring-flowering bulbs until it turns brown and dies down.

Southwest

  • As gardens begin thirsting for water this spring, add a 3-inch layer of organic mulch to hold in moisture and keep soil cooler.
  • If you've had hornworms on your tomatoes in the past, try planting cherry tomatoes. They have thicker skins and a higher alkaloid content, which seems to repel the worm.
  • Divide and transplant clumps of ornamental grasses.

Midwest/Mountain

  • As weather warms, uncover mulched roses and other flowering perennials. Remove some mulch each day so plants gradually get used to spring weather.
  • Divide perennials before new growth begins. Put newly divided plants in a well-drained location and amend with plenty of compost.
  • Sow cool-season annual and vegetable seeds such as peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes, cabbage, violas, and pansies.

Northeast

  • Get hummingbird feeders ready at the end of the month to welcome hummers back from their long journey south over the winter.
  • Don't let the mulch layer get too deep under trees. Ideally, the mulch should be about 2 inches deep. Any deeper and it can smother shallow roots. If necessary, remove old mulch before applying new material. Avoid piling mulch against the tree trunk, because this can encourage fungal diseases.
  • If soil is not too wet, plant peas, onions, parsnips, spinach, and other cool-weather crops toward the end of the month.

Southeast

  • Watch for early-hatching aphids, lace bugs, and scales in their crawler stage. Most insects are easier to control at the infant stage.
  • Plant okra, pumpkins, squash, sweet corn, lima beans, collards, sweet potatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes, snap beans, cantaloupes, and watermelon.
  • After spring-flowering bulbs have bloomed, feed them with a bulb fertilizer. Allow their foliage to turn brown and die before cutting it back.